Families in the Beverley area are being invited to share their views on local maternity services.

As the Hull and East Riding Maternity Services Review enters its final few weeks, NHS Hull Clinical Commissioning Group and East Riding of Yorkshire CCG have announced a further series of consultation events at which local plans to provide choice of place of birth will be discussed.

The consultation event in Beverley will be held on Wednesday September 12 from 9.30am to 11.30am at the East Riding Choices Centre in Norwood.

The event will be run on a drop-in basis to enable visitors to have an informal chat with NHS staff.

The public consultation closes on Monday October 1. Once the consultation period has ended, the feedback received will be used to inform any decisions made by the CCGs alongside the ongoing requirements for maternity care to remain both clinically safe and cost effective.

Full details, including a copy of the consultation document, an online response form and details of all the upcoming events are available on www.nhshull.nhs.uk/maternityservicesreview, or by ringing (01482) 344733.

Four people have been arrested after being caught in the act, allegedly stealing lead from a railway line in Driffield.

A 999 call was made by a member of the public at 3pm on Friday 14 September, reporting men with wheelbarrows, allegedly stealing lead from the railway line near Meadow Road in Driffield.

As the metal theft was in progress and four traffic officers based at the nearby Driffield Police Station were already in the area they responded instantly, shortly followed by a Driffield PCSO.

The suspect vehicle; a blue Transit van was located nearby the railway track and the driver and passenger were immediately arrested.

The PCSO was used to preserve the evidence and trace witnesses. Whilst in the area PCSO Webster saw two suspects who made off from the scene.

PCSO Chris Webster chased the two men for 600 yards along a deserted path without support and detained them on his own.

It was apparent from his radio transmissions that he was having difficulty keeping the two men detained, so PC Worrall, PC Dickinson and Sgt Crawford returned to the scene to assist, leaving one Police Constable to control the initial prisoners on his own.

The three officers ran the 600 yards along the deserted path to the location PCSO Webster was and arrested the two additional men.

One of the arrested men became extremely violent and following a struggle spat blood at two of the officers and attempt to head but PC Worrall.

Fortunately the second prisoner was more compliant.

A search of the area located approximately 3/4 of a tonne of Railway fittings which were being allegedly stolen using the Transit van. The majority of the lead was recovered at the scene.

The investigation has been passed to the British Transport Police to continue with their enquiries.

The Divisional Comander for the East Riding, Chief Superintendent Rich Kerman said: “This is an excellent example of the type of work our officers deal with on a daily basis and demonstrates excellent support and team work between officers from different departments and ranks.

“I am always encouraged when action is taken as a direct result of a suspicious sighting, and would urge anyone who witnesses anything suspicious to call the police, you may be witnessing a crime in progress which could be dedected.

“I am very proud of the Police Community Support Officer and the Police Officers who attended to this emergency call and shows the courage, dedication and contribution they have all made to serve the public.”

Students, parents and carers enjoyed an end of summer fair held by a Beverley charity.

The event was held by the FiND charity (Families for Individual Needs and Dignity) and included fun activities with a barbecue, tombola and various stalls and games.

There was also a photographic competition, judged by the Deputy Mayor of Beverley, Councillor Martin Cox. The photographs were taken by the students, who have severe learning disabilities, throughout the summer.

FiND charity provides day service support to students with severe learning disabilities or autism, and the event was held at its FiND2 base at The Chandler Centre in Belprin Road.

The Local Housing Allowance liaison officer is part of the benefit and money advice service and is available to help people who receive housing benefit that will be affected by the benefit cap and other changes resulting from the Welfare Reform Bill.

Changes from April 2013 include a cap on the total amount of benefit that working age people can receive. This will mean that workless households should no longer receive more in benefits than the average earnings of working households.

It is important that claimants potentially affected by the cap are aware of the impact it could have on them. The cap won’t apply to households where a partner or any dependent child qualify for Working Tax Credit, or receive certain benefits such as Disability Living Allowance, Industrial Injuries Benefits and War Pensions.

Those who are affected by the cap will have their housing benefit reduced before any other benefit that they receive. They could avoid or reduce deductions to their housing benefit if they:

* negotiate the rent to a more affordable amount;

* move to cheaper accommodation, if possible;

* become entitled to an exempting benefit if the qualifying conditions are met.

This is where the Local Housing Allowance liaison officer could help. They can help to negotiate a cheaper rent with your landlord or find more affordable accommodation for you.

We are holding sessions at libraries across the East Riding of Yorkshire area throughout October 2012 as follows:

2 OCTOBER, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM: NORTH BRIDLINGTON LIBRARY.

4 OCTOBER, 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM: BRIDLINGTON CENTRAL LIBRARY.

4 OCTOBER, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: HORNSEA LIBRARY.

5 OCTOBER, 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM: DRIFFIELD LIBRARY.

16 OCTOBER, 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM: GOOLE LIBRARY.

16 OCTOBER, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: SNAITH LIBRARY.

17 OCTOBER, 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM: BROUGH LIBRARY.

17 OCTOBER, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: HESSLE LIBRARY.

22 OCTOBER, 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM: COTTINGHAM LIBRARY.

22 OCTOBER, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: BEVERLEY LIBRARY.

23 OCTOBER, 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM: HEDON LIBRARY.

23 OCTOBER, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: WITHERNSEA LIBRARY.

25 OCTOBER, 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM: MARKET WEIGHTON LIBRARY.

25 OCTOBER, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: POCKLINGTON LIBRARY.

Come along and see us if you have any queries about your housing benefit or if you think you may be affected by the benefit cap or any other changes to your benefit.

Councillor Margaret Chadwick, portfolio holder for Corporate Support Services, said: “The benefit and money advice service has a good record in assisting East Riding residents and I strongly recommend these drop-in sessions which will help ensure that people receive their maximum entitlements.”

If you cannot attend one of the above sessions, you can telephone us on 0800 915 0381, or email benefit.takeup@eastriding.gov.uk

Angry residents fighting plans to build up to 315 new homes on a greenfield site in Driffield say a public consultation exercise has done nothing to allay their fears.

About 80 residents went to a public exhibition of the plans at Driffield School last Friday, where they had an opportunity to voice concerns to representatives of developer Gladman.

The company says it is now expecting to submit a planning application for the site some time in October.

But the residents, who have collected over 100 names opposing plans for the development planned for land off Bridlington Road, say they remain fiercely opposed to the scheme.

Gladman, which is one of the UK’s largest speculative developers, has sent leaflets to 800 homes and businesses in the area asking what people want to see as part of the development.

But objectors claim the scheme would destroy a swathe of agricultural land between Driffield and Nafferton, while brownfield sites close to the town centre lie empty and derelict.

One of the main objectors, Dennis Cox, of The Ridings, Meadowcroft and Beechcroft Neighbourhood Watch group, said the public exhibition had done little to allay residents’ fears.

Although he said the company had given assurances that some details including a proposal to include a pedestrian way around the boundary wall which runs alongside the estate, would be looked at again, Mr Cox said the objectors remain as fiercely opposed as ever to the overall scheme.

“This was an attempted PR exercise and I don’t think it has worked. This is a lovely open space of beautiful fields which have been used for agricultural purposes for centuries, on which they want to build houses. We don’t need them there – there are viable alternatives,” he said.

Mr Cox said there is a fear among some of the protestors that the proposals are ‘cut and dried’.

Phill Bamford, Gladman’s planning manager, said that hundreds of new homes will need to be built in Driffield over the next few years.

“Through the National Planning Policy Framework, the Government is seeking to boost significantly the supply of housing to ensure that an area’s full need for both market and affordable housing is delivered,” he said.

“The latest consultation on the East Riding Core Strategy stated that for Driffield there is a need for an additional 2,423 new homes up to 2028.

“In order to meet this need, the council will have to promote both the redevelopment of brownfield regeneration opportunities available in the town, which are somewhat limited, and sustainably located greenfield sites around the town which the council’s Preferred Approach Core Strategy acknowledges.

“We consider our site to be sustainably located and it will deliver a high quality scheme which will integrate well with the existing settlement.”

A NEW Women’s Institute group is to be launched in Leconfield, following the success of an initial meeting to guage whether there was enough support.

Twenty-five women went along to the meeting, at which it was agreed that a new WI group would be formed.

The first meeting will be on Wednesday October 3 in Leconfield Recreation Club, at 7.30pm.

At this meeting, officials will be elected and plans made for future activities of the group.

In addition to the 25 people who attended, others sent their apologies because they were away on holiday, and anyone who is interested in joining the new group is welcome to go along to the meeting on October 3.

The Women’s Institute movement will celebrate its centenary in 2015 and the East Yorkshire Federation of WIs is keen to increase its membership.

For more information, please ring Heather Winn on 01377 254573.

A SCHEME has been launched aimed at helping Driffield residents to protect their property from thieves.

The Bridlington and Driffield Area Community Partnership is working closely with Humberside Police to support the recovery of stolen goods.

The partnership, with money supplied by East Riding Safe Communities, have purchased UV marker pens to help residents record their postcode and house number on valuable items which will enable them to be tracked back to the owner.

Police have access to UV lights which show up postcodes when shone on your UV mark.

Councillor Jackie Cracknell, portfolio holder for community partnerships, said: “The Bridlington and Driffield Community Partnership is one of six community partnerships set up in the East Riding of Yorkshire Council area to look at local issues which include community safety and provides a multi-agency approach to solving local problems.”

This initiative is part of a larger scale project being carried out by Bridlington Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Inspector Grant Taylor said: “This partnership initiative has allowed us to provide residents of the Bridlington and Driffield communities with a free UV pen.

The use of the pen could mean the difference between a resident losing their property forever and having it returned to them.”

Councillor Shelagh Finlay, Chair of the Bridlington and Driffield Area Community Partnership, said: “The partnership is actively working to support the Police in reducing the number of stolen goods not returned to their owners.”

A NEW mum from Bridlington has spoken of her horror after discovering a medical equipment blunder whilst she was in labour had left her with third degree burns.

Mary Pattern, 20, was undergoing an emergency caesarean section at Scarborough Hospital on Christmas Eve last year when a pair of cauterising tongs fell from a medical tray and landed on her calf - causing two large burn marks.

As Miss Pattern had received an epidural and was on morphine and gas and air during her labour, she said she did not feel a thing until days later when she returned home.

She said: “I had had an epidural so didn’t feel anything at the time and my legs were covered with a quilt. The only reason they realised something had happened was the smell of my burning flesh.

“I was obviously still a little bit out of it after the operation before a lady came and tried to tell me what had happened, but nothing went in. I was more concerned about my baby as I have suffered two miscarriages in the past. I just wanted to know that my baby was healthy.”

Mary, who works as a carer at Westbourne Lodge residential home, was rushed to surgery when midwives realised the cord was wrapped around her baby’s neck and she was not sufficiently dilated.

Thankfully, baby Tallulah Ann was born safely at 8.12pm on Christmas Eve.

Miss Pattern and her daughter remained in hospital for three days although she says her burns were never properly dressed and she was not given clear guidance on how to treat them.

Once the effects of the epidural had worn off and she was back at her home the burns started to cause Miss Pattern severe pain. She went to the Bridlington Minor Injuries Unit where she was immediately given antibiotics, as the burns had become infected.

“I was in agony and the pain lasted for months afterwards. I went to the doctors and had to have the dressings changed every other day, and eventually I did them myself,” she continued.

“I work in the care industry myself and I understand that mistakes can happen, but this was a serious mistake. I’ve still got scars and I am very, very wary of hospitals.

“I am just glad that it happened to me and not Tallulah - she wouldn’t have been able to survive something like that.”

She was later referred to the plastic surgery department at Hull & East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust and is receiving on-going scar massage and silicone therapy to heal the wounds, although she still has two scars between one and a half and two and a half centimetres in diameter.

Miss Pattern sought legal advice from Neil Hudgell Solicitors and has now received compensation of £5,000 from what was then the Scarborough and North East Yorkshire NHS Trust - which has now merged with the York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

A spokesperson for York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We have apologised to Miss Pattern and are pleased that we have been able to reach an amicable settlement. We wish her well for the future.”

Jacqueline Fadul-Vallarino, medical negligence specialist at Neil Hudgell Solicitors, said: “This was an extremely traumatic and anxious time for my client. Whilst she thought she was safe in the care of medical professionals, an injury occurred which caused her a great deal of pain and suffering. I hope this settlement goes some way towards compensating her for what she has had to endure.”

ORGANISERS of a community music event for Driffield say they are determined it will appeal to everyone.

Twenty people attended a Driffield Events and Entertainment Committee meeting last week to discuss the way ahead for a community event in Driffield in 2013.

Councillors were delighted with the turn out from members of the public and local business owners.

Town Council clerk Claire Binnington said: “As yet no format, venue or date have been decided upon, other than the Committee want to deliver an event that will appeal to all, with a wide array of music and attractions - including comedy acts.

“The Committee are maintaining a flexible approach in the initial stages, and have discussed various concepts from one day events to spreading things over a number of days, in a number of venues.

Mrs Binnington said: “Any arrangements will revolve around the town centre and members of the committee are to gauge the views of the general public but particularly local businesses including the pubs as to how they feel they could get involved.”

Fundraising and the procurement of sponsorship will begin in earnest before Christmas when the date, venue and format have been agreed.

As previously reported, Driffield Town Council has agreed to bankroll a major music event to the tune of £15,000 - with the promise of another £10,000 if it is needed.

Coun Matt Rogers, chairman of the events and entertainment committee, said they would also seek outside sponsorship.

The committee would welcome any ideas and views, please contact the Town Clerk on 01377 254160 or email townclerk@driffieldtowncouncil.org.uk.

The next meeting is Monday October 8 at 6pm at the Market Walk offices. Everyone welcome.

“A VERY expensive night out” is how a magistrate described the case of two brothers arrested for fighting in Bridlington.

Christopher Clinton Bycroft, 35 and James Donald Bycroft, 29, both of Council Houses, Foston-on-the-Wolds, appeared together at Bridlington Magistrates Court on Wednesday September 12.

Christopher Bycroft pleaded guilty to a section 4 public order offence, and James Bycroft pleaded guilty to the same offence and also a charge of assaulting a police officer, relating to an incident in Bridlington in the early hours of August 25 this year.

The two men were spotted on CCTV fighting on the Esplanade in Bridlington, after they had visited Utopia with family for James’ birthday.

When police officers attended, there were “four to six men piled on the floor brawling, with James and Christopher Bycroft at the bottom fighting,” said prosecutor Sally Robinson.

Police officers tried to break up the brawl, and PC Cammiss attempted to pull James Bycroft off his brother.

On his back, he swung out his legs and kicked PC Cammiss in the stomach, causing her to fall on the floor and leaving her with a sore stomach.

Another police officer discharged a taser, and both men were arrested.

Mitigating, Richard Fowler said: “They have not done themselves or their family proud at all.

“It was James’ birthday and nobody really knows how the argument started and developed into a fight. When they got to the station and had time to think about it, and realised a police officer was hurt, they realised how serious it was.

“Unfortunately, James lost self control and did not appreciate that he had hit the police officer. Finding that out is something that horrified him.”

The brothers are both fishermen, with Christopher owning his own boat and employing four to five people, while James runs his father’s boat.

Presiding magistrate Jennie Byass handed the pair each £300 fines for the public order offences, and ordered them each to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge.

James Bycroft was fined a further £300 for assaulting a police officer, and ordered to pay £100 in compensation. No further action was taken after Christopher Bycroft admitted breaching a previous conditional discharge.

Mrs Byass said: “I have not added it all up, but your stupidity has led to to one very expensive night out.”

EAST Riding of Yorkshire Council has been fined £18,000 after oil from a Withernsea school’s heating system leaked into a nearby watercourse.

At a hearing at York Magistrates’ Court today (Thursday 20 September), the Council admitted a charge of causing polluting matter to enter inland fresh waters, in contravention of Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council was also ordered to pay £3,939.02 in costs, plus a victim surcharge of £15.

The case was brought to court by the Environment Agency, who were alerted to the oil leak in January 2011. Craig Burman, prosecuting on behalf of the Agency, told the Court that on 17 January 2011 a strong odour of fuel oil was detected by Withernsea High School, Hull Road, Withernsea, following an oil delivery.

The following day an oily discharge was observed from an outflow pipe into a watercourse near the school.

The oil dispersed through drains to the nearby watercourse, which feeds Winestead Drain, a wildlife haven which itself feeds into the Humber Estuary. A rainbow discolouration could be seen across a 15-kilometre stretch of the watercourse, with a particularly heavy accumulation of red oil around a pumping station on Winestead Drain.

Although the school became aware of an issue on their site on 17th January, it was not investigated until the following day and the Environment Agency wasn’t notified until that afternoon. It transpired that the oil was coming from a storage tank which serves the school’s oil-fired central heating system.

The council, which owns and maintains the school, called in contractors to contain the spill. However the firm lacked some of the necessary containment equipment and the Environment Agency brought in booms to place on the surface of the water to contain the pollution before it entered the Humber Estuary.

Tracey Thompson, an environment officer at the Environment Agency, said: “We are pleased that the problem has now been resolved - pollution of this sort can have a huge impact on wildlife, so it was imperative that the problem was identified and resolved before this occurred.

“We hope this case shows how important it is that all businesses take their environmental responsibilities seriously. One of the Environment Agency’s biggest ambitions is to improve the cleanliness of thousands of miles of rivers in England, and everyone has a part to play to ensure our water and land is more natural and sustainable for people and wildlife.”

The Court heard that there had been an earlier pollution incident at Goole in April 2010 when oil leaked into a water course following a delivery of oil to another school operated by the Council.

In mitigation, Thomas Spencer, representing the council, told the court that the volume of leaked oil was not significantly large, and the court accepted that the Council’s action had been “swift, prompt, and appropriate” once it was aware of the leak. The council has also commissioned a survey of all oil storage tanks on all of their sites, following the oil leak.

THE Beverley Power Walking group meets at Beverley Leisure Complex every Wednesday evening for a brisk one-hour route through countryside.

The group, which is run by volunteers, meets at 6pm and would welcome more walkers to join it.

Contact Sam James on 07991 843197, email Samantha.james@eastriding.gov.uk or turn up at the front doors of the complex any Wednesday evening.

THE family of a Driffield drug dealer wept in court as he was told he is facing a prison term for dealing in high-strength skunk cannabis.

Luke Wilson, 22, of Victoria Road, told police he had been selling the class B drug for nearly two years when they interviewed him after finding cannabis at his home.

Police were called to Wilson’s house for a domestic dispute, but soon became suspicious about his use of cannabis.

A search revealed 16.6grams of skunk cannabis in the property.

Wilson stood in the dock of court one at Hull Crown Court on Monday and pleaded guilty to one charge of possession of the controlled drug with intent to supply on December 7 2011.

He also admitted a charge of supplying cannabis to others between January 1 2010 and December 7 2011.

At this point a female member of his family sat in the public gallery wept loudly and did not stop.

Wilson, dressed in a black suit and blue tie, denied a charge of converting criminal property during the same two-year period.

Crown barrister Jharna Jobes said the pleas were acceptable.

His defence barrister Anil Murray accepted that Wilson had a conviction in 2005 for robbery, when he was given a referral order, and a police caution for possession of drugs in 2011.

He said, because of his age, he would benefit from a pre-sentence report on his background, complied by the Humberside probation service.

Judge Mark Bury told Wilson: “Given your guilty plea to these offences, you should expect a custodial sentence. All sentencing options are open.”

Wilson was allowed to walk free on bail, but must return to Hull Crown Court on October 13 for sentence.

A MAN who was caught driving at almost double the speed limit has been disqualified from driving for 28 days.

James Edward Rodgers, 36, of Sunset Cottage, Thornholme, pleaded guilty at Bridlington Magistrates Court to exceeding the 30mph speed limit when he was clocked driving 56mph in Bridlington, on May 2 this year.

The court heard that Rodgers was speeding along Kingsgate at around 9.56pm, and was stopped by a police officer.

Emma Dann, mitigating, said that there were no aggravating circumstances and that Rodgers apologised for his actions.

She asked magistrates to consider a 28 day disqualification as Rodgers uses rental cars to travel to his job in the merchant navy, and any points on his license would complicate that arrangement.

Alongside the ban, presiding magistrate Jennie Byass fined Rodgers £500, and ordered £40 costs and a £15 victim surcharge to be paid, saying: “It was excessive speed, something which the general public find unacceptable.”

A PETROL saw has been stolen from a garage at a detached property in Beeford.

The door of the garage, on Main Street was forced open and the petrol powered Stihl stone cutting saw, with diamond blade worth £500, was stolen between September 1 and 12.

A spokesperson for Humberside Police said: “Over the last few months there has been several similar thefts of small motorized equipment stolen from garages and sheds in the villages in the Driffield area.

“If you are concerned about the security of your property and would like to have a home visit form the local PCSOs please phone 101 and ask for an appointment to be made.”

A QUAD bike has been stolen from a farm in Sledmere.

The red Massey Ferguson agricultural utility quad bike was stolen from the farm yard overnight on Sunday September 16.

The quad bike was found two days later in a lane near Weaverthorpe.

The bike is now being examined by forensic officers and a police investigation is underway.

Anyone with any information about this incident should call the non-emergency number 101 quoting crime reference number 1930663.

FAMILY and friends gathered to celebrate the one-hundredth birthday of Stan Shipley on Thursday 13 September.

Mr Shipley, of Scarborough Road, Driffield, lived for 46 years in Garton-on-the-Wolds and was born on Brook Street, Driffield in 1912.

During his life he learned his trade in agriculture, in particular as a shepherd for many years, and has worked on the Warter Village Estate.

He worked with the Home Guard in 1945, and was married at Finbar Church in 1938.

Mr Shipley has a large family, with four sons, six daughters, 16 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

He used to sell the Green Sports Mail on the corner of George Street in Driffield in the 1950s.

A birthday card from Her Royal Highness the Queen was received by Mr Shipley.

a QUAD bike has been stolen from a farm in Wold Newton.

The red 4x4 Kawasaki Mule 600 bike was stolen from outbuildings at a farm between 9.30am and 1pm on Friday September 8.

As the bike was used on the farm it had no registration plate.

Anyone with any information about this has been asked to contact the police on the new non-emergency number 101 quoting crime reference number 1929115.

LEADING East Yorkshire company Rix Petroleum is hoping to deliver more than just fuel this winter time.

The firm, which supplies heating oil and diesel to homes and businesses across the county, is looking to drive up donations to Dove House Hospice by having the charity’s logo specially-painted on to the back of one of its tankers.

Employees at Rix Petroleum have already raised more than £2,000 for the organisation since adopted it as their charity of the year in May.

Now they are hoping to raise the profile of its vital work further, as their new tanker takes to the roads delivering fuel across the region.

James Brook, marketing manager for Rix Petroleum, said the company was coming into its busiest time of the year when the tanker would be on the road every day.

He said: “We have been supporting Dove House Hospice this year because when we asked the staff as to which charity they wanted to the company to support, it came out as the clear winner.

“So far we’ve supported Dove House Hospices annual ‘Its A Knock Out’ contest and then held our own week of office sport in the form of the OlympRix Games. We’ve also introduced a monthly dress down Friday to raise money, but we wanted to go one step further to promote the charity.

“The tanker will be on the road throughout winter delivering heating oil across East Yorkshire as the temperature falls, so it will be seen by thousands of motorists and we hope that will raise awareness of Dove House Hospice and the amazing work it does.”

Becky Baynes, fundraising co-ordinator at the charity, which offers respite care to

people suffering life-limiting illnesses, said she thought the tanker looked fantastic with its new paint job.

She said: “We have had fantastic support from Rix Petroleum so far this year, but this is something completely new and different. It will provide mobile awareness for Dove House Hospice which will hopefully inspire people to find out more about us and the work we do in our local community.”

A worried cat owner is warning other cat-lovers to be on their guard after her pet suffered serious injury, which she believes was caused by a snare.

Beverley Didsbury’s eight year old cat Shadow had to have a leg amputated because his leg was so badly injured. He returned home limping and distressed last Thursday after being missing for several days from his home in Middleton-on-the-Wolds.

It was not the first time that Shadow had been in the wars. Last winter Beverley says he escaped serious injury after he was shot at, severing a tumour on his face.

She says Shadow does not usually wander far from home, and after he went missing last week she had searched around the village for him.

When he eventually returned, she said his back ankle had raised wheal marks around it, which suggested he had been caught in a snare.

She took the cat to the vet, who explained the injury would not heal, as it had severed tendons and ligaments.

“The vet offered us the option of having it pinned and plated, but the leg would never be able to be bent and he suggested amputation,” she said.

Beverley says that a cat belonging to a friend who also lives in the village was shot earlier this year, and a number of other cats in the area have gone missing. She is warning other cat owners to take extra care with their own pets.

In the meantime, she says Shadow is getting used to living with only three legs.

“The vet said he will have pretty much the same quality of life as before as far as being active, but he won’t be catching mice or chasing rabbits like he used to. This cat has more than nine lives!” she said.

Vet David Smith, of Driffield’s Aldgate veterinary pracice, who treated Shadow, said the injury could have been caused by a snare, but it was impossible to be sure.

“The injury is commensurate with the leg being pulled from something, but exactly what it is impossible to say,” he said.